Municipal waste-to-energy technology assessment. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:10115008

Barrett, R E; Krause, Jr, H H; Engdahl, R B; Levy, A; Oxley, J H ^[1]

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1. Battelle Columbus Div., OH (United States)

Two major technologies are available to burn municipal solid waste (MSW) to generate steam for the production of electricity: mass-burn and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) systems. Mass-burn systems process as-received waste directly in a combustor, such as a reciprocating, rotary, or roller-grate furnace, with only limited removal of undesirable objects. Refuse-derived-fuel (RDF) systems first process the waste to produce refuse-derived fuel via shredding and other operations before combustion in spreader-stoker, fluidized-bed, and other suitable combustors. Although mass-burn systems with specially designed grates are now considered proven technology, there is much interest in RDF systems, because RDF can be used in a wide range of combustors, including some utility power plants of conventional design. However, a number of technical issues remain for both mass-burn and RDF-firing systems, and further research is warranted. Disposal of the ash residues from the combustor and/or the waste from the air-pollution control equipment is a major issue preventing more widespread use of this technology. Selection of materials of construction is also an important issue. Continuous-emission-monitoring requirements may be exceeding the technical capabilities for reliable, long-term operation. The occasional receipt of biologically active waste or waste containing heavy metals is still a troublesome issue. Dioxin emissions seem to be a problem only in plants of early design, although the issue of dioxin emissions continues to be a major one in permit applications and public relations. 58 refs., 28 figs., 16 tabs.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Battelle Columbus Div., OH (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 10115008
• Report Number(s): EPRI-TR--100058; ON: UN92007320
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090900
095000
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305
320604
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ASHES
BAGHOUSES
COCOMBUSTION
COMBUSTION
CORROSION
DIOXIN
DRY SCRUBBERS
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FLUIDIZED BED REFUSE GASIFICATION
FLUIDIZED-BED COMBUSTORS
FLY ASH
INDUSTRIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
MUNICIPAL WASTES
PARTICULATES
PROCESSING
RECYCLING
REFUSE DERIVED FUELS
REFUSE-FUELED POWER PLANTS
RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITIES
SLAGGING PYROLYSIS PROCESS
SOLID WASTES
STATISTICAL DATA
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE